I hope this email finds you enjoying the final days of summer! The new school year has arrived, and we are excited to welcome back our returning students and families, as well as our new students and families to the Life School Oak Cliff Elementary community.

We have spent the summer preparing an exciting and enriching curriculum, and we can’t wait to share it with your children. Our dedicated staff is eager to create a positive and supportive learning environment where every child can thrive. We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential to student success. We look forward to working together to ensure your child has a fantastic year!

Here are a few things that you can do to help your child have a successful first day of school:

• Get a good night's sleep. It's important for your child to be well-rested on the first day of school. This will help them to focus and learn.
• Eat a healthy breakfast. A good breakfast will give your child the energy that they need to start their day off right.
• Dress for success. Help your child prepare their uniform tonight.
• Pack a healthy lunch. A healthy lunch will help your child to stay focused and energized throughout the day.
• Give your child a hug and tell them that you love them. A little bit of encouragement can go a long way on the first day of school.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of our school's expectations for students. We expect all students to:

• Be respectful of themselves, their teachers, and their peers.
• Follow the rules of the school.
• Do their best in school.
• Be involved in school activities.

Here at OCE we are committed to providing your child with a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment. We believe that every child can learn and succeed, and we are here to help them reach their full potential.

Thank you for your continued support of OCE. We look forward to working with you to make this a successful year for your child!

Be sure to check out our Parents Back to School page for all the information you need to send your students back to school prepared!

• School Supplies

• Uniforms

• Before & After School Care

In the meantime, please feel free to contact the school office if you have any questions or concerns.

We can't wait to see you all soon!

Sincerely,

Principal Stovall

Our first day of school is Monday, August 5th. All students are required to be in full uniform on the first day. Please click here for Life Schools uniform policy.

Breakfast/Lunch will be served on the first day of school. See below regarding breakfast and lunch.

Morning Arrival: Doors open at 7:15AM

Afternoon Dismissal: 3:55PM

Aug 3 - Parent Orientation/Back to School Bash (See below)

Aug 5 - First Day of School

Aug 9 - No School Friday

Aug 16 - Staff Development, No School

Aug 20 - Big Kahuna Fundraiser Starts

Aug 23 - No School Friday

Aug 29 - Birthday Thursday/$3 Free dress Day

Aug 29 - Lost & Found Donated

Aug 30 - No School Friday

Get ready for an exciting start to the new school year! We're thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Parent Orientation and Back-to-School Bash on this Saturday, August 3rd from 9am to 1pm.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to meet our teachers, learn about the upcoming school year, and connect with other families in our school community. We'll have information stations, immunizations, delicious food trucks, and important information to share.

We can't wait to see you there!

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Schedule

9:00AM -10:00AM Kinder - 2nd Grade Meet the Teacher & Station Visits

100:00AM - 10:30AM Kinder - 6th Grade Parent Orientation Session

10:30AM - 11:30AM 3rd - 6th Grade Grade Meet the Teacher & Station Visits

Stations

EPI Pre-Ordered School Supplies: Pick up your pre-ordered school supplies

Levines - Uniforms: A Levines representative will be present to help families place online orders if needed, or answer any questions.

Medication Drop Off: This is an opportunity for you to drop off your student's medication in the nurse's office.

Hang Tag Forms: Be sure to fill out the Student Pick-Up Authorization Form and get your Hang Tags before the first day of school. Please bring your driver's license and the driver’s license numbers of anyone who may pick up your student during the school year.

Free & Reduced School Meal Application: Fill out the Free & Reduced School Meal Application using one of our campus devices.

Powerhouse: Receive information about Powerhouse and enroll your student in their before and after school program.

Immunization Clinic: Dallas County Health and Human Services will be present offering vaccinations to children 18 years of age younger.

Submit your Student Pick-Up Authorization Form online and pick up your hangtag at Parent Orientation or skip the lines during Parent Orientation and pick up your hang tags prior to school starting! Hang tags are needed each day for dismissal. Visit the LSOCE front office starting between 8:00-4:00 to fill out your Student Pick-Up Authorization form. We are open today.

The parent filling out the Student Pick-Up Authorization form, must present their driver's license to get the hang tag. Be sure to bring the driver's license number of anyone else who will be picking up your child during the school year.

Don't forget, daycare buses also need a hang tag!

Hangtag options:

• Complete online by clicking here and receive hangtag(s) at Parent Orientation or during office hours.
• Download, print, and complete the Student Pick-Up Authorization prior to coming to campus and receive hangtag(s) at the front office.
• Complete form at Parent Orientation and receive hangtag(s).

**Our pink 2023-2024 hang tags have now expired**

Please see our dismissal map provided below. We will spend some time going over our dismissal process during Parent Orientation.

See below some reminders regarding Arrival & Dismissal:

Arrival

• Arrival is from 7:15-7:40.

• Breakfast is from 7:15-7:40.

• Any students arriving to the cafeteria after 7:40 will not be able to eat breakfast.

• Tardies are written starting at 7:45.

• Please do not ever enter the parking lot through the exits, this is dangerous for you, our students, and other drivers.
  

• Please remain a safe speed and put your phone away during arrival and dismissal

• All students must be dropped off through our arrival lines. Dropping off in the parking lot or on the service road is not safe for our students, as they are not monitored.

• Remember, our doors do not open until 7:15. Prior to 7:15, students will not be permitted into the building and are not supervised by Life School staff. Our students' safety is our top priority, and being dropped off prior to 7:15, without adult supervision, is not safe for our students.

Dismissal

• Dismissal is from 3:55-4:40.

• All parents and families must pick students up in the dismissal lines. Parents are not permitted to walk into the building to pick up a student. All parents must have a green hangtag in order to pick up their student from school. See below for arrival and dismissal times and maps.
  
• All daycares must also have a green hangtag when picking up students.
  
• If your child will be going home a different way, please communicate that information to your child's teacher and/or the front office before 3:25pm.
  
• Our staff works really hard in the rain, cold, wind, and sunshine to release close to 720 students safely. We ask that you please be patient and kind to our staff and other drivers.
  
• Please remain a safe speed and put your phone away during arrival and dismissal.
  
• Students are expected to be picked up promptly at dismissal time, before 4:40 pm, or make other arrangements to have students picked up. Adults picking up students must have a valid form of identification or a green hang tag to pick students up from the office after 4:40 pm and a $10.00 late fee per student will be due at the time of pickup. This fee can be paid with cash or online(transaction fee will be applied).

At Life School we believe parents are their child’s first educator. It is important to partner together for your child’s education. Thank you for partnering with us to help your child be the most successful they can be!

We invite you to visit campus to volunteer, eat lunch, or conduct classroom observations. Student safety is also our number one priority each day. Please see the below guidelines for visiting our campus.

Upon Arriving on Campus:

• Please park in the parking lot near the front office entrance
• All visitors must enter through the front doors.
• Press the Access Control button to buzz into the office.
• The office staff will ask you the reason for your visit and ask you to show your Hang Tag or Driver's License to the camera above the Access Control button.
• Please be patient while we verify the student's Authorization Form.
• Once verified, you will be given access to report to the front office.

When visiting campus, please follow the below procedures:

• All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.

• You are only permitted to visit the areas you are checked in for. Parents are not to walk freely around the building or visit classrooms, unless a classroom observation has been scheduled with the teacher. Please limit your student interaction to only your child.

• Please do not disrupt the orderly conduct of classes, school programs or other school activities.

• Schedule conferences with teachers prior to arriving on campus. Teachers are not expected to take class time to discuss individual matters with visitors.

Guidelines for volunteering on campus:

• All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.

• Parents can be checked in after 9:00 am to volunteer on campus.

• Parents are welcome to volunteer on Thursdays, if a previous arrangement was made between the parent and the teacher.

• Parent volunteers should work in the atrium or hallway, not in the classroom, unless instructed to do so by the classroom teacher.

Guidelines for classroom observation include the following:

• Classroom observations may begin after Labor Day
  

• All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.

• Parents can be checked in after 9:00 am to observe in a classroom.

• A maximum of two parents are allowed in the classroom at a time.

• Only parents/guardians are allowed in the classroom.

• There should not be any conversation with other observers or with the students.

• Please take a seat in the back of the room. Please do not sit next to your child’s desk.

• If you wish to discuss your child’s progress, please refrain from conversing with the teacher until after school or by appointment. It is very important that the teacher’s undivided attention be on the students.

• It is strongly recommended that the parents call in advance on the morning of their observation to ensure that a substitute is not in the classroom.

• Classroom observations should be limited to only 30 minutes. Classroom observations are for parents/guardians only.

Guidelines for eating lunch with your child:

• Parents are welcome to join their child for lunch starting after Labor Day.

• All visitors to the school must report to the receptionist upon arrival at the school. They will be required to sign-in with the receptionist and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the badge to the front desk and sign out before leaving the building.

• Parents can be checked in after 10:00 am to eat lunch with their student.

• Parents/Guardians are welcome to eat lunch with their child on campus. Parents may only bring lunch for their own children. Students and parents may not bring in or give away food to other students during lunch times. Parents may eat lunch with their child in the atrium at the provided cafeteria tables.

• Students and parents are not allowed to use food delivery services to have food brought to school during school hours.

• Parents may only eat lunch with their student.

• Parents and visitors are not permitted to take pictures or record video while in classrooms. Recording and taking pictures of field trips, special programs, or events are allowed.

For more information, please see our Student/Parent Handbook.

All families need to complete the Free and Reduced Price School Meal Application each school year, even if your child does not purchase school meals. Information collected through this application process provides opportunities for additional state and federal funding for our school operations.

Click here to view the breakfast/lunch menus.

Breakfast is served each day from 7:15-7:40. Breakfast is FREE this year at OCE for all students starting the first day of school.

Click here to sign Up for My School Bucks, our online lunch payment system.

Please see below reminders regarding school uniform and dress code:

• Elementary students must wear navy pants, skirts, or plaid jumpers or skirts. Elementary students should not be wearing khaki pants or skirts.
• Elementary students must wear navy or red polo shirts or a white oxford (button-down) shirt with the Life School crest.
• Spirit T-shirts can only be worn on Thursdays. Polo shirts must be worn Monday-Wednesday.
• Be sure to make note regarding hair color. As stated on page 13 of the handbook "Hair must be neatly groomed. No excessive colors or nonconforming hairstyles for boys or girls (only natural hair colors are acceptable)."
• For more information, please see our Student/Parent Handbook.

• Note: Navy uniform pants and shorts can also be purchased at Walmart, Target, or other local or online retailers.

• Life School jackets are available for purchase from our vendors.

• Your student may wear a jacket, school cardigan, or hoodie over their uniform shirt provided it has a Life School logo (from Levine's or Land's End) or of solid red or blue color and has no images or words (other than a small logo).

Visit Levine's website for uniform options.

Visit Land's End website for uniform options.

Please click below to access our current Student/Parent Handbook. Any updates that are made to the handbook after the board approved date will be communicated to parents through district approved communication outlets.

Student/Parent Handbook

School Hours: 7:35 am – 3:55 pm.

Morning Drop-off/Arrival: 7:15 – 7:40 am.

No student will be allowed to enter the building before 7:15 am.

Students must be inside their classrooms and ready for learning by 7:35 am; students who are not in their classrooms at that time will be marked tardy.

Any person picking up a student must present a 2024-2025 vehicle hangtag before the student is released.

NOTE: A Student Pick Up Authorization Form must be completed in order to receive the hangtag(s). Incomplete forms will not be accepted, and no old hangtags will be accepted.

Only adults with hangtags will be allowed to pick up students. Students not picked up by 4:25 pm will be charged a late fee of $10 per child per day.

If a student is going to be absent for any length of time, please provide documentation to Mari Williams at mari.williams@lifeschools.net, student's teacher or to the front office.

Any questions regarding absences, tardies/early pickups please contact Mari Williams at mari.williams@lifeschools.net. Attendance is available for you to review at any time in the Parent Portal.

Excessive unexcused tardies/early pickups can result in disciplinary consequences. Excessive absences can result in filing with the truancy court. Please refer to pages 7-8 in the Student/Parent Handbook for Life School’s attendance polices.

Below is our district's policy of any personal telecommunication devices. Please understand that cell phone and/or smart watch use falls under the following district policy that can be located, in full, in our Life School Student Handbook on our website.

Use of Personal Telecommunications Devices

For safety purposes, Life School permits students to possess cell phones while on school property or during school-related activities. However, these devices must remain on silent during the instructional day and shall not be visible during classroom instruction. A student must have approval to possess other telecommunications devices such as notebook computers, laptops, tablets or other portable computers.

The use of cell phones or any device capable of capturing images is strictly prohibited in locker rooms or restroom areas while at school or at a school-related or school-sponsored event.

Parents should not call or text their children and expect an immediate response during the school day.

Telecommunication Device Penalties

Students who violate this policy shall be subject to established disciplinary measures, in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

• 1st Offense –Return cell phone/telecommunication device to the parent or guardian at the end of the school day plus pay a $15 administrative fee.
• 2nd Offense –Return cell phone/telecommunication device to the parent or guardian after end of third school day from time of confiscation and pay a $15 administrative fee.
• 3rd Offense – Student is not permitted to have a cell phone/telecommunication device at school for the remainder of the semester, or if confiscated during the 2nd or 4th nine weeks, the student may not be permitted to possess a cell phone/telecommunication device the following semester.

Any student violating this policy or refusing to turn over an improperly used or exhibited electronic device to school staff will be subject to disciplinary penalties in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Life School will not be responsible for damage to or loss or theft of confiscated items.

Don't forget to sign up for Partners for Life by clicking here. By signing up, you will receive updates regarding events and opportunities on our campus.

When you respond for an event, you will receive hours for your participation. As parents receive hours, we will recognize parents throughout the year with shout outs, special prizes, and recognition.

Did you know... When you dedicate time to reading every day, you can reduce stress, boost your mental health, fall asleep faster, and enrich your vocabulary?

Did you know ... Children who read 20 minutes every day are exposed to a large number of books and stories throughout the year, which improves their understanding and analytical skills, increases their vocabulary, shapes their personality, and increases overall academic performance.

Click here to read 7 Benefits of Reading 20 Minutes a Day as well as some tips on how to get started. #LifeLeadersRead

During morning announcements, we will focus on one LifeLeader Attribute each week and learn what we need to do to develop each attribute so that we can become effective leaders in our school and in our community. We encourage students and families to memorize these statements together and talk about how the attribute is exhibited at home, school and work. We will share the I Will statement in the weekly newsletter and on our campus Facebook page. We look forward to hearing how students are exhibiting the attributes at school and home. Click here to view all 15 LifeLeader attributes.

Parents are encouraged to sign up for Life School Parent Portal by clicking here. The Parent Portal will allow parents to monitor attendance records and student grades throughout the year.

Grading Weights, Late Work, & Retest Policy

Parents are able to access their student's grades and attendance anytime using the Parent Portal. Click here to sign up and access your child's information.

3rd-6th Grading Weights:

• Daily: 35%
• Participation/Homework: 15%
• Tests: 50%

Late Work 3rd-6th Grade: All late work must be turned in within 3 days of the assigned due date. Work received after this time will not be accepted. For each day late -10 points will be deducted from the final grade. The maximum grade allowable for late work turned in on the 3rd day will be a 70.

Retesting 3rd-6th Grade: A student/parent may request a retest opportunity if a student receives a failing (below 70) test grade. This request must be made within 3 days of the grade being posted in Parent Portal. Open book quizzes and projects that fall into the testing category will not be eligible for retesting. District wide assessments are not eligible for retesting, per district policy. The maximum grade allowable for retests will be a 70.

• District Parent Resources Page

• Life School Calendar

• Student/Parent Handbook

• Before & After School Care

• Free & Reduced Lunch Application

• LifeLeader

• My School Bucks

• Parent Portal

• Partners for Life Parent Organization

• Safety & Security Newsletters

• Uniform Vendor Information

Ready to Learn...Ready to Lead...Ready for Life!

Email: quanesha.stovall@lifeschools.net
Website: https://lifeschool.net/schools-campuses/oak-cliff-elementary-school
Location: 4400 South R L Thornton Freeway, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 214-376-8200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifeoakcliffelem
Twitter: @PrincipalStovall